Cub hits 172 on runway

According to the pilot of the Piper J-3C, which he was operating from the rear seat, while taxiing to the runway at the airport in Greeley, Colorado, his forward visibility was diminished by his airplane’s nose, requiring the use of “S” turns in order to clear the area in front of the airplane.

He reported that a Cessna 172 was in front of his airplane, and taxiing to the runway as well.

He remarked that he and the Cessna were holding on the taxiway momentarily in order to monitor and give way to arriving and departing traffic. He reported that the Cessna moved forward, and he followed, but while entering the “S” turn, he lost sight of the Cessna.

He remarked that he abruptly applied the right brake in order to avoid a collision, and his left wing hit the Cessna’s rudder.

The pilot of the Cessna reported that during his taxi to the runway, his airplane was struck from behind by the Cub.

Both pilots shut down their airplanes, assessed the damage and exchanged information. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the rudder, while the Piper sustained minor damage to the left wing.

Probable cause: The pilot of the following airplane failed to maintain adequate spacing during the taxi to the runway, resulting in a collision with the lead airplane.

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Comments

When I was doing my initial check out on the B-727, the check airman shared his philosophy on those mistakes. He stated that he had yet to accomplish a perfect flight, but each and every time he sat in the seat he strived to make that one the first perfect flight. Hopefully that reduced the inevitable mistakes to as few and as minor as possible.

There’s no way to make a ‘perfect’ flight because the variables are too many and the human response time too slow and knowlege base imperfect. The best one can hope for in any given flight is to not make a fatal mistake. The little ones are correctable.

Tailgating on the highway or on a taxiway is poor operator technique. Even at slow speeds (these aircraft were moving slowing in this accident) things can get out of hand more quickly than the operator of the aircraft in trail can safely respond. The guy in the Cub with the stick in hand earned his demotion from “pilot” by his actions. 🙁

Seem to remember Bob Hoover taking out a truck with his Mustang at the Reno Air Races many years ago, although I can’t remember the details. I would say the Cub “pilot” is in good company. Hopefully none of us join him.
Every pilot makes mistakes on every flight, as long as they don’ t
involve the FAA, the media, lawyers, and or the insurance company it was a good flight.

“Every pilot makes mistakes on every flight, as long as they don’ t
involve the FAA, the media, lawyers, and or the insurance company it was a good flight.” And the pilot’s actions (or failure to act) don’t cause harm to anyone else… or create/habituate habits that will later cause harm. Think Roy Halladay’s last flight, for example.

Well said, John. And with understanding that sometimes those horrible lawyers actually represent the pilot, protecting his or her rights and interests, and that other persons can be harmed without death or injury to them or loss or damage to their property: the pilot’s loved ones and friends grieving the pilot’s death or distressed by his or her injury.

I was at Reno when that happened. The Jetcar tow vehicle had dropped the show vehicle off for its run down the runway and then drove back to the ramp and shut down. So, during the run the pickup driver walked off and left the truck there. Why this guy parked there was any ones guess. Bob Hoover started his mount and started taxing out and was taxiing east bound on the ramp and apparently missed the parked pickup in his path. Bob was seated in the cockpit at that point before impact. He was not a happy camper that day.